NH Gov. Lynch: I have a veto pen and I’m not afraid to use it

The pen is mightier than the sword, it’s said. For Gov. John Lynch, will the veto pen be mightier than the words in his State of the State speech?
 

Two years ago, during his State of the State speech that heralded the beginning of his fourth-term as governor, he didn’t use the word “veto” once.

This year, during his State of the State address, after a full year of GOP rule in the House and Senate, he used it specifically twice and threatened it in three other instances. Even before the speech yesterday Lynch has already wielded the veto pen this year.

It’s apparent that Lynch will not go quietly into the night as a lameduck governor.
 

His tone was more combative, more judgmental as he assessed certain votes from the 2011 legislative session and as he looked ahead to other votes in the coming months.
 

He judged, for example, last year’s vote to reduce the tax on cigarettes as “nonsensical”.
 

“That money would have been better spent on our community college and university systems, for example. We should roll it back, and use the revenue to invest in our economic future,” he said, having noted that the Legislature cut the university budget by 50 percent.
 

Here’s where he specifically threatened to use his veto power:
 

-- On legalized gambling. “I do not believe that the monetary benefits of expanded gambling outweigh the risks that it poses to New Hampshire's quality of life, our existing businesses and workers, and our economic future. That is why I will veto legislation allowing casinos in New Hampshire,” he said. This cuts across party lines since Democrat Lou D’Allesandro is the biggest proponent of gambling in the Senate.

-- On a sales or income tax. “I am proud that New Hampshire has among the lowest state taxes per capita in the nation. I have been and remain committed to vetoing an income or a sales tax,” he said, repeating a pledge that remains the mantra of most all New Hampshire Republicans and most Democrats, for that matter.
 

And here’s where he alluded to using a veto:
 

-- Union rights threatened by right-to-work legislation: “I respect the contributions of all of our workers, and I will never take away their right to organize,” he said.

-- Expansion of gun rights: “I support the right of our citizens to bear arms. We have had a long bipartisan tradition of reasonable laws that balanced the rights of gun owners with the needs of public safety. Unfortunately, there is a rash of proposed legislation that would undermine our tradition, from a bill repealing gun licenses, to a bill repealing background checks, to a bill forcing colleges to allow guns in classrooms and dorms. We should always make public safety our highest priority. These bills are wrong for public safety and they are wrong for New Hampshire.”

-- Repeal of the state’s gay marriage law: “New Hampshire has a long and proud tradition of fighting for the rights of all people. And a tradition of leaving people alone to pursue their own happiness. As Governor, I intend to uphold that centuries-old tradition. I will stand firm against any legislation that would strip any of our citizens of their civil rights.”

Even before stepping up to the rostrum to give his final address as governor, Lynch used his veto on legislation allowing high interest installment loans, SB 160.

Given the substance of the governor’s address and the to-do list of the Republican agenda for the year, it’s likely to be anything but a “lame” 2012 in Concord.

Paul Briand is an editor with the non-profit Live Free or Die Alliance, which takes a non-partisan approach to the examination of public policies and politics in New Hampshire.